SPECIAL EVENTS

TAMPA BAY

Lady in Red Valentine Dance      

This all-women's dance, held at the extensively renovated Coliseum, saw over 1200 ladies in attendance last year with hopes of even more this year. The South's finest ballroom opens its oak dance floor for us this evening. The historic Coliseum was built in 1924, and features one of the South’s finest ballrooms with its expansive oak dance floor. The dance takes place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N., St. Petersburg. Tickets are $25 and available at (727) 686-8294. 

WINTER PRIDE TAMPA BAY

Stagnant for several years, organizers in Tampa have united to resurrect the city’s GLBT pride celebration, never more important than with recent developments in Hillsborough County. As part of the celebration, Kate Clinton’s 25th Anniversary Tour stops at MCC Tampa at 7:30 p.m., on Friday, Feb. 24. Winter Pride takes place at 11 a.m., on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Lowry Park Bandshell. Events will include a vendor fair with entertainment. For more information, visit WinterPrideTampaBay.com.

 OPERA

ORLANDO

A romantic comedy perfect for Valentine’s Day, Elixir tells the story of a naive young man who doesn’t have the confidence to pursue the object of his affections. A quack doctor sells him a love potion and the excitement begins in this Italian opera. Performed Feb. 10, 12 and 14 at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre in Italian with English supertitles, Elixir makes the perfect Valentine’s date. Tickets are available at (407) 426-1700 and at OrlandoOpera.org.SARASOTA

SARASOTA OPERA FESTIVAL

The Sarasota Opera presents its 2006 annual Opera festival through March 26. The Sarasota Opera House has become the cornerstone of Sarasota's Theater Arts District while the company has come to merit accolades from all over the world. This year’s operas include Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Verdi’s I Masnadieri, Strauss’ Die Fledermaus and the production that Rent was based on, Puccini’s La Boheme. Tickets are available at (941) 366-8450 and SarasotaOpera.org. 

THEATRE

ORLANDO

Arthur Miller’s All My Sons questions whether all really is fair in love and war. The Rollins College Department of Theatre and Dance presents Miller’s masterpiece Feb. 17-25 at the historic Annie Russell Theatre. The show’s director, Eric Zivot, became an American citizen on July 4, 2003. As a relatively new citizen, he hopes to bring a fresh perspective to Miller’s politically charged American classic. The post-9/11, post-Enron world throws new complexions upon Miller’s observations of ethics and morals, making it as timely today as it was when it first hit Broadway in 1947. Tickets can be purchased through the box office at 407-646-2145 or online at rollins.edu/theatre.  

COUCH POTATO THEATER    

The Oops Guys Comedy Troupe, Fiely A. Matias and Dennis T. Giacino, has turned downtown’s Studio Theater into Couch Potato Theater. Out go most of the theater seats and in come comfy sofas, easy chairs, recliners, plus microwave ovens to make free popcorn and cook TV dinner giveaways!  It's like sitting in front of the television in the comfort of your living room, only you're watching live theater, but only through Feb. 18. The Guys are presenting three of their most celebrated productions: sitcom spoof The Naked Guy, reality game show Do I Make You Horny? and cabaret whore act Lounge-zilla! Naked features new sensation Joey Reinert. Horny adds local spin-meister DJ Cap’n Kirk to the cast. For showtimes and tickets, visit CouchPotatoTheater.com or call (407) 827-0691. Studio Theater is located at 398 W. Amelia St.

With a title like Movin’ Out, you’d think it’s the tale of a young lad who, to discover his burgeoning homosexuality, leaves his parents’ Midwestern home for the bright lights of the Big Apple. Instead, it’s a guy on a stage singing Billy Joel songs in what may appear to be a non-random order while mute dancers create the American Graffiti-esque story. The show runs from Feb. 21 to 26 at the Bob Carr and tickets are available at (407) 839-3900 or BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.TAMPA BAY

Is there such thing as the perfect murder? American Stage’s 28th season continues with the classic thriller Dial "M" for Murder once lensed by Alfred Hitchcock. Infuriated by his wife’s one-time marital indiscretion but unwilling to forsake the luxurious lifestyle her wealth affords him, a scorned husband blackmails an old college acquaintance into murdering his guilt-ridden spouse to collect her inheritance. The show is currently running through Feb. 12. Tickets prices are $21 to $34 depending on date and time of performance. For more information and to purchase tickets call the box office at (727) 823-PLAY or visit AmericanStage.org. American Stage is located at 211 Third St. S. in St. Petersburg. W